Thorns Sign Defender Tina Ellertson

Remember how at the beginning of the season, the Thorns drafted Tina Ellertson and then everyone said it was a wasted draft pick because Ellertson had made it clear she was not going to be playing in the NWSL this season?

Well, this just happened.

From the Thorns FO:

THORNS FC SIGN DEFENDER TINA ELLERTSON
World Cup veteran added at roster freeze deadline, midfielder Nikki Washington placed on disabled list

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC announced today that the club has signed former U.S. Women’s National Team defender Tina Ellertson for the remainder of the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season pending league approval. Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Additionally, midfielder Nikki Washington was placed on the disabled list with a knee injury. Both transactions were made in advance of today’s NWSL Roster Freeze deadline.

Ellertson, 31, was the team’s first pick (eighth overall) in the NWSL Supplemental Draft on Feb. 7, 2013. The Vancouver, Wash., native earned 34 caps for the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2005-2008, including three appearances during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.

A former standout at the University of Washington, Ellertson played professionally for three seasons in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) from 2009-2011. A two-time Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year selection (2003, 2004), the defender last played for Florida-based club magicJack in 2011, appearing in 18 games (17 starts) and helping guide the team to the WPS semifinals.

Originally allocated to St. Louis Athletica in 2009, Ellertson appeared in 21 matches during her rookie season, leading the club in minutes played (1,838). She was named a WPS All-Star for her performance during the year and helped the WPS All-Star team to a 4-2 win over Umeå IK of Sweden. Ellertson made 16 appearances for the Atlanta Beat in 2010, after St. Louis Athletica folded operations early in the season.

Washington, 24, recorded one goal and two assists for Thorns FC during the inaugural NWSL season. Washington made 11 appearances (10 starts) for Portland, recording her first career NWSL goal in the 51^st minute of a 2-1 win at Washington on May 4. Washington recorded the first assist in Thorns FC history at JELD-WEN Field, delivering a free kick to defender Marian Dougherty for a goal in a 2-1, home-opening win over Seattle Reign FC on April 27.

Tina Ellertson
Position: Defender
Number: 24
Height: 5-9
Born: May 20, 1982, in Vancouver, Wash.
Hometown: Vancouver, Wash.
Last Club: magicJack (WPS)
College: University of Washington